Matt Damon May Scale THE GREAT WALL with Bryan Cranston

Long-in-development project eyes Damon and Cranston…

Deadline’s Mike Fleming hears that Matt Damon and has his eye on the lead role in Chinese filmmaker Zhang Yimou’s upcoming drama ‘The Great Wall,’ with Bryan Cranston in early talks to co-star

Featuring a script by Carlo Bernard and Doug Miro, with rewrites by ‘Bourne Ultimatum’ scribe Tony Gilroy, ‘The Great Wall’ reveals the mystery behind why the Great Wall was built, and the secrets hidden beneath its stones.

Ed Zwick (‘The Last Samurai,’ ‘Glory’) was previously set to direct with Henry Cavill and Benjamin Walker on board to play the leads; however, that version iteration of the project collapsed.

The drama is set up at Legendary Pictures with Thomas Tull, Chuck Roven, Jon Jashni, Richard Suckle and Peter Loehr producing. Jillian Share, Bennett and Alex Gartner are on board to serve as executive producers.